Shoe.



Patented Sept. 4, I900. R. DE LEO.

SHOE.

(Applicafion filed Jan. 20, 1900.

(No Model.)

| J 13 If I STATES PATENT OFEIcE.

SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,095, datedSeptember 4, 1900.

Application filed January 20, 1900. Serial No. 2,159. (No model.)

.To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RALPHAEL DE LEO, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shoes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to shoes, and has for its object to produce a shoein which the en tire upper portion is made from one piece of leather;and it consists in the novel construction of the same, as will be moreparticularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference-numeralsindicate corresponding parts in each of the views in which they occur,Figure 1 is a view of the blank from which the upper portion of the shoeis formed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shoe partiallycompleted with the last in position and a portion of the insole detachedand at a distance below its normal position, and Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview of my shoe in condition to have the outer sole secured in position.

In manufacturing shoes, and especially the finer grades-as, forinstance, ladies shoesit is desired that the upper portion of the shoebe made without seams to give the shoe as neat an appearance aspossible. To ac complish this object, I have found that by cutting theupper in the form of an oblong oval, as shown at l in Fig. 1, andproperly crimping the same the different parts can be drawn perfectlysmooth and even when applied to the last 2. After the last has beeninserted the insole 3 is secured in position in the usual manner, andthe heel 4 and the rear end of the outer sole 5 are secured thereto, asshown in Fig. 3. As the upper is imporforate, it becomes necessary toremove the last through the sole instead of taking it out through theupper, as is usually done. For this purpose I find it necessary to formthe last in separable sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11,

' each of which is small enough to be removed through an opening in thesole. After the upper, which has been provided with an ordinary welt 12,has been secured in position over the last and the insole 3 and the heel4 and. the rear portion of the outer sole 5 have been secured in placeit is necessary to remove the last before the outer sole is sewed Toaccomplish this, a portion 13 to the welt.

of the insole is removed, forming a hole 14 directly under the section 7of the last, the edges of the removed portion of the insole beingbeveled, as shown at 15, to prevent the piece 13 from passing throughthe opening 14 after the last has been removed and the piece is replacedto complete the insole of the shoe. By pressing down upon the top of thesection 7it can he slipped down through the opening in the insole andremoved. Each of the other sections are then removed through the openingin the sole. After the last has been removed the piece 13 is replaced inthe opening 14 and the outer sole 5 is brought into position and securedby means of stitches through its edge and through the welt 12 in theordinary manner. If desired, a suitable spring 16 may be secured betweenthe two soles to prevent the possible breaking of the outer solo inremoving the last. A portion 17 of the upper is then cut out for theankle and the usual slit made therefrom toward the toe for the entranceof the foot of the wearer and the parts trimmed in any desired fashion.

As above described, it will be seen that a shoe constructed inaccordance with my method will effect quite a saving in the amount ofleather required for the upper and in the time necessary for preparingit for use and that the shoe will have a much neater appearance whencompleted than with the usual seams and ridges.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. As a new article of manufacture, a shoe, the upper of which is formedfrom a single piece of material, and the insole is provided with aremovable portion, and the outer sole is secured to the welt of theupper in position to hold the removable portion of the insole in place,substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a shoe, the upper of which is formedfrom a single piece of material and the insole is provided with aremovable portion, the edges of which are beveled, and the outer sole issecured to the welt of the upper in position to hold said removableportion in place, substantially as described.

RALPHAEL DE LEO. \Vitnesses:

FRED E. BAKER, FRED. L. NORRIS.

